XL Popcorn – Bring Me The Head Of Alfredo Garcia

List Item: Watch all of the “1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die”Progress: 656/1007Title: Bring Me The Head of Alfredo GarciaDirector: Sam PeckinpahYear: 1974Country: Mexico/USA

Being a big fan of Gilmore Girls, the first time that I heard about Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia was in one the many references that comes out of Rory Gilmore’s mouth. Now that I’ve seen this film… I have to say that I question that Lorelai Gilmore let her daughter see it at such a young age. Then again, this is a mother-daughter combo that refuse to eat vegetables so there’s probably bigger things at play.

Anyway, back on task, I find it hard to believe that, upon release, Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garica was tarred by some critics as one of the worst films ever made. I mean, I get that this is a very bleak and violent film, but this is also blackly comic and unpredictable (in an intentional way, unlike The Black Cat). You also have a fantastic performance from Warren Oates as Benny – the man who locates the titular head.

The central plot of this film is simple: a hit is put out on Alfredo Garcia to the sum of a million dollars. The man who brings back his head has the rights to claim the money. The kicker being that he is already dead.

Out of this weird conceit comes a film that takes a deep dark look at humanity. Sure there’s a lot of murder, an almost rape and a rotting head (the growing number of flies around that head is utterly revolting… in an almost comic sense), but there’s also the fact that we’re watching a man who, without much to lose to begin with, gains a chance of love and money only to have it violently taken away from him so senselessly.

It really takes a lot to lead a film like this. As a character Benny has to go through the mangle from being this smart talking, piano playing guy to someone so consumed and singular that a severed head becomes his best friend. Seriously. He has full blown conversations with a severed head because, in all this craziness, it’s probably the only thing that can provide Benny with some modicum of comfort.

I know that The Wild Bunchis said to Sam Peckinpah’s best film, but seriously there is no competition if you ask me. Bring Me The Head of Alfredo Garcia is fascinating and manages to keep up pace and interest throughout it’s run time. With there being two more films by Peckinpah left on this list (Straw Dogs and Pat Garret & Billy The Kid) I wonder what my final thoughts on this director will end up being.